Our ongoing tour across the country profiling outstanding freshmen softball players under consideration for the 2018 Hot 100 list continues into Tennessee today as we take a closer look at a speedy slapper who was one of the first commits in the her class…

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Name: ALEXYS HASKINGS
High School: Ezell Harding Christian School
City: Antioch
State: 
Tenn.
Grad year: 2018
Club: Birmingham Thunderbolts – Roberson (rated No. 5 in the preseason FAB 50 16U Club Rankings)
Position(s): 2B/OF
GPA: 3.57 as an Advanced Honor Roll Student

Club Stats: 2014 summer – batting average of .529, on-base percentage of .644, 30 doubles, six triples and four home runs; 43 RBI, 10 walks and 23 steals.
Honors & Accomplishments: 2014 – top 20 finish at PGF Nationals with Gold Coast Hurricanes, TC/USA Nationals runners-up, 2013 – top 20 finish at ASA Nationals with Atlanta Vipers

Personal Coaches: Her hitting instructor is Andy Haines, the Miami Marlins AAA Manager, and her slapping instructor is India Chiles, a former Tennessee Vols All-American.

College: verbal to Tennessee (Dec. 2013)
Recruiting Process: Alexys unofficially visited Auburn, UCLA, Michigan and Illinois. She was also recruited by Oklahoma, Washington, Missouri, Florida, Georgia, Memphis, Michigan State, North Carolina, Southern Illinois, and Utah State.

Softball Goal: Alexys is planning on trying out for the Jr. Olympic National Team in January 2016.

Workout Routine: Her current weekly routine consists of two after-school sessions with her hitting coach, 2-3 workouts with her personal trainers focusing on speed, agility and/or weights, and an afternoon of school ball practice.  On weekends, Alexys is part of a group that works on live hitting and hitting drills as well as defensive drills. All of this is in addition to her college prep school schedule with honors classes.

Video Student: Alexys is a huge proponent of studying video… she records her hitting sessions, defensive drills and workout/training sessions and watches them to gauge how she’s doing. Questions she asks include, “Is my technique right when slapping? Is my form correct when swinging away? Am I releasing the ball at the right time? Am I getting faster? Says her father, GE Haskins, “By watching video, Alexys can make the necessary adjustments to help improve her game.”

Motivational Phrases: The Tennessee freshman is big on motivational quotes… one of her favorites is on the family fridge: “Allergic to Average!”

Coach’s Comments I: “Alexys is a very ‘level-headed’ athlete with a pinpoint focus for the game of softball. She has a very high IQ for the game. When Alexys is not playing herself, she is busy being a student of the game, studying those around her and those above her on the collegiate and professional level. I believe this is and will continue to be a driving force keeping her above the talent level of so many. Alexys has played east coast to west, north and south, and has a very good understanding of what it will take to exceed at the high school and college level.”
— India Chiles, slapping instructor

Coach’s Comments II: “Throughout my professional coaching career with the Miami Marlins, I have coached players who are now excelling on the biggest stage in Major League Baseball. Alexys has all the attributes and talent that the best of the best have. I’ve had the pleasure of being her hitting instructor for the last 6 years. She is in a class of her own in regards to being an elite competitor, talent level, and all out drive to be the best.”
— Andy Haines, Miami Marlins AAA Manager and hitting instructor

Trainer’s Comments: “Alexys is one of the best  female athletes I have ever trained. Her mental toughness is as strong as some of my professional baseball clients. The first word that comes to my mind to describe her is “relentless.”
— Joshua Costello, Dir. of Training, Chadwick’s Fitness and Performance Training

Highlight Video (summer 2013):